Review: Sony PSP-290 GPS Receiver

[bandit]

Sony PSP-290 GPS Receiver
Manufacturer: Sony
Site : Buy from Goldenshop
Price: $59.99

Overview : The position measurement system “GPS which utilizes the radio wave from the satellite (Global Positioning System)” in PSP®. PSP® furthermore evolves conveniently by combining PSP® exclusive use “GPS receiver” with the corresponding software. The various software appear, from practical tool such as navigation software and the action game which utilize the function only of GPS to the game.

Specs :

• Reception frequency: 1575.42Mhz (L1 band, C/A cord/code)
• Reception method: Channel 20
• Reception sensitivity: Pursuit: - 153dBm; Supplementation: - 140dBm
• Determination renewal time: Approximately 1 second
• Determination precision: 5m (2DRMS, - 130dBm)
• External size: Approximately 45 × 41 × 17mm (width x height x depth)
• Mass: Approximately 16g
• Contents ones: GPS receiver ×1; Private case ×1

Software that uses GPS Receiver (Japanese games only) :

• Portable Homestar (SEGA)
• Metal Gear Solid Portable OPS (Konami)
• Hot Shots Golf 2 (aka Minna no Golf Ba - SONY)
• MAPLUS: Portable Navi (Edia)
• Minna no Map 2 (Zenrin)
• MapThis! (Homebew app by Deniska)

Quality/Usability : Sony released the PSP-290 GPS Receiver in Japan in March 2006. Since than, no other country has received the GPS device. Software? Japan only. The only map applications released for the PSP-290 was MAPLUS: Portable Navi and Minna no Map 2 which were released only in Japan. A couple of games also use the GPS device, Metal Gear Solid Portable OPS, Hot Shots Golf 2 and Portable Homestar. Games will also work in the US and US games (if available) as well but is aimed more towards Japanese gamers as the PSP-290 is only released in Japan.

North America and Europeans were left out to scratch their heads and wonder to themselves, when are we going to get our own? There is no release date planned. With that said, since Sony has not released this product anywhere other than Japan, this review is only based on the use of MapThis! by DCEmu's very own, Deniska. While the application is still being worked on everyday, it is not perfect. Deniska and other contributors are working hard each day trying to improve MapThis! and include features for future versions.

(credit: deniska)

You can make your own maps from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth by using in7ane's Window map download tool here.

The PSP-290 GPS Receiver is fairly small. It attaches to the USB port on top of the PSP and is held in place with two screws. The antenna can be placed in several positions whether it be up or closed. Using Deniska's MapThis! app, it takes about anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes for the GPS Receiver to lock on to some satellites depending on your location. Also, considering MapThis! is not by Sony, there will be some issues but Deniska is working hard, day and night to resolve issues.

Conclusion : Overall, the Sony PSP-290 GPS Receiver is a nice product but the support is lacking. The GPS Receiver is only available in Japan with no release date for North America or Europe. MapThis! is the only app for non-Japanese users. The reception is not as strong compared to an actual GPS receiver such as Holux. With the PSP-290 attached to the PSP, it would not fit in a PlayGear Pocket or any hardcases. Luckily, Sony included a little plastic case to hold the GPS Receiver.

I would love to see Sony actually release the product in other countries. This will definitely bring more hardware sales for the PSP. But for the time being, we have MapThis! and I can not wait to see what new features Deniska has planned (hint: turn by turn sound)

Images via comments

[Psyberjock]

I have to point out an inaccuracy. Homestar Portable and ESPECIALLY MGS:PO, BOTH work in the US and do so with GPS support. While you would need some understanding of the Japanese language to fully appreciate Homestar, it is easy to operate even for those who cannot and of course MGS:PO is available in the States in English.

[bandit]

I have to point out an inaccuracy. Homestar Portable and ESPECIALLY MGS:PO, BOTH work in the US and do so with GPS support. While you would need some understanding of the Japanese language to fully appreciate Homestar, it is easy to operate even for those who cannot and of course MGS:PO is available in the States in English.

Although true, the PSP-290 was released in Japan so i wasnt really reviewing from the US viewpoint..kinda. But will update review. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Basil Zero]

Interesting piece of equipment.

how reliable is this compared to other GPS devices like Tom Tom?

[bandit]

Interesting piece of equipment.

how reliable is this compared to other GPS devices like Tom Tom?

Considering there is no official software in the US or Europe from Sony, its not reliable. The only application we have to use is the homebrew, MapThis! and the app isnt 100%. If you were to use this in Japan with one of the softwares that Sony offers, then this would be reliable.

Some users in the US have used the PSP-290 and MapThis! and it works but there were instances where they went under an overpass for a couple of seconds and the GPS Receiver lost reception. Others in other countries have no problems using MapThis!

[wraggster]

had to reduce the videos down to 1, for some strange reason they were making the pages take ages to load. everything should be much faster now

[bandit]

Thanks wraggy!

[gametoptech]

Tks

[www.piv.cn]

see

[VampDude]

I might get one of these when there is more support and more reliable/accurate!